𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐘, stanley barber

xiv. THIS MUST BE MY DREAM.

SINCERITY IS SCARY, STANLEY BARBER
( xiv. this must be my dream )

THE NEXT DAY AT SCHOOL, I ONLY saw Sydney Novak once, and we didn't speak a word. Stan didn't speak to her either, he just looked at her unhappily before storming in the other direction, leaving me to run after him. However, whilst we weren't talking to Syd, it appeared that Dina was, which was good for Syd. She may have been a dick, but she didn't deserve to lose everyone. "I'm gonna have to head home, Vi." Stan glanced at me as he stopped his bright yellow car outside my house after school. "You know, to get ready for Homecoming?" I swallowed back the fireworks that were erupting in my stomach at the thought of Homecoming, and the fact that I was going to Homecoming, tonight, with Stanley Barber, my boyfriend. Now was not the time to be freaking out. "Is he gonna be there?" I asked Stan, lacing his fingers with my own as the curly haired boy sighed. "I don't know. Hopefully not." He exhaled heavily. "Well, can't I come with you?" Stan shook his head. "No, Vi. I don't want you there in case... in case he decided to lash out again. But he'll be gone tomorrow afternoon. Besides—" The boy grinned. "You need to get ready, too." "Do you not think I look good enough in this?" I demanded, mock outrage filling my face as I gestured down at my black jeans and pale purple top. "I think you look gorgeous, Vi." Stanley whipped back, pulling me in for a small kiss. "But, you are going to Homecoming with the best dressed boy in all of Brownsville, so..." "I'll bring it." Laughing, I nodded at Stan. "But you be careful, okay?" I insisted, and Stan agreed slowly. "I will be, don't you worry." Clambering out the car, I waved to Stan as he drove off; the boy even took the time to wind down his car window just to blow me a small kiss before making his way home.

"Homecoming day?" Toby beamed at me with raised eyebrows. I nodded, glancing briefly at the homework sat in front of my brother on the kitchen table, pointing out question two. "That one's wrong. The answer should be x equals twenty seven." "Thanks, Vi." Toby smiled, correcting it on his page and offering me a cookie, which I took gratefully. "Carter said he'll be home before you leave." My younger brother chimed in, keeping his eyes down, and I responded with a "sounds good," before darting off into my bedroom to begin getting ready. My hands grasped at the handles of my wardrobe door, heaving it open. To say I was excited was an understatement, and it wasn't just about going with Stan. I had wanted to go to a school dance for the longest time, but never had before. It wasn't exactly something that was up Stanley's street, and I never felt like going without him, as stupid as that may sound. Sure, I'd been asked by the odd person to be their date, but I would have rather stayed home and listened to Bloodwitch or The 1975 with Stan. But now, I was going to the dance with Stanley, and not just as friends. Excitement fizzled happily inside me as I rooted through my wardrobe, determined to find something remotely dance-like to wear. Piles and piles of hoodies and flannels were tossed onto the floor, but I didn't find much; I wasn't the kind of person to own many dresses or skirts. Finally, my eyes came across the shimmer of dark blue fabric— something I swore I would never look upon again, let alone wear.